Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mary and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $379 in Mary versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $581 in Mary versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Mary versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Mary costs roughly 70% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mary 72% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.62 TMT 39.03

$4.55 ฿153

155.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 TMT 28.66

$8.84 ฿298

-3.51%

Cappuccino

$8.59 TMT 28.87

$3.06 ฿103

180.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 TMT 22.15

$0.73 ฿24.42

802.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 TMT 4.93

$0.40 ฿13.40

267.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.82 TMT 22.93

$2.43 ฿81.8

180.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 TMT 38.13

$3.78 ฿127

200.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.82 TMT 9.46

$2.26 ฿76.0

24.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

Eggs

$6.79 TMT 22.81

$2.25 ฿75.6

201.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 TMT 3.94

$0.52 ฿17.40

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿936.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,120

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 TMT 717

$500 ฿16.8K

-57.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mary: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 134% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Mary vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mary wins on cost – living expenses run 230% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mary the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 134% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 317% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $379 per month in Mary versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 230% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $379 in Mary versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mary but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Mary the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Mary delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mary hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Mary and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mary gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.